Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Winston-Salem, NC

    Is Winston-Salem a good place to live?

    Watch Winston-Salem

    Winston-Salem ranks #34 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (38/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $208,200
    +11.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,033
    per month
    Household income
    $57,673
    median
    Unemployment
    5.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Winston-Salem

    The median home value in Winston-Salem is $208,200 and median rent is $1,033 a month, against a median household income of $57,673. Homes cost about 3.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Winston-Salem crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Winston-Salem, NC

    Winston-Salem has about 250,887 residents, 5.9% unemployment and 22% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Winston-Salem with

    Winston-Salem vs CharlotteWinston-Salem vs RaleighWinston-Salem vs GreensboroWinston-Salem vs DurhamWinston-Salem vs FayettevilleWinston-Salem vs CaryWinston-Salem vs WilmingtonWinston-Salem vs High Point

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report